v*  r  .  '  ■■ 

Securing  Efficient  Administration 

UNDER  THE 

COMMISSION  PLAN 


COMPILED  BY 

FREDERICK  W.  DONNELLY, 

Mayor  of  Trenton^  New  Jersey^ 


For  the  American  Academy  of  Political 
and  Social  Science 


Reprinted  from  the  February  Number 
of  The  Annals.” 


Results  of  the  First  Complete 

4 

Fiscal  Year 

Containing  references  from  Price,  Waterhouse  Com¬ 
pany’s  financial  statement,  and  from  report  of 
Director  of  Revenue  and  Finance,  and 
excerpts  from  reports  of  various 
city  departments,  showing 
efficiency  and  economy. 


TRENTOK  CITY  COMMISSION. 


Frederick  W.  Donneley^  Mayor-Director  of  Public  Affairs. 
Edward  W.  Lee^  Director  of  Revenue  and  Finance. 

George  B.  LaBarre^  Director  of  Public  Safety. 

J.  Ridgway  Fell,  Director  of  Streets  and  Public  Improvements, 
William  F.  Burk^  Director  of  Paries  and  Public  Property. 


Chief  Characteristics  of 

COMMISSION  FORM 


*4 


The  most  interesting  innovation  in  the  field  of  municipal  pol¬ 
itics  in  the  past  decade  has  been  the  development  of  Commission 
Government,  so  termed  because  the  governmental  policies  are  en¬ 
trusted  to  a  Board  or  Commission.  It  had  its  inception  in  the 
City  of  Galveston  after  the  disastrous  fiood  of  1900  had  com¬ 
pletely  devastated  that  city.  The  remarkable  progress  that  was 
wrought  in  rehabilitating  Galveston  under  its  new  charter  made 
that  city  the  cynosure  of  national  attention.  This  condition,  aug¬ 
mented  by  the  general  dissatisfaction  that  emanated  from  many 
quarters  where  the  old  system  of  municipal  government  had  be¬ 
come  inadequate,  caused  other  Texas  cities  to  hold  referendum 
elections  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  the  new  and  modern  plan. 
In  every  instance  civic  awakening  followed  in  the  wake  of  the 
new  charter,  and  Commission  Government  was  heralded  as  a  rem¬ 
edy  for  long  existing  municipal  evils.  Other  Western  and  South¬ 
ern  cities,  including  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  soon  followed  the  example 
of  Galveston,  and  the  change  of  charter  was  attended  by  some 
amazing  and  highly  meritorious  results.  The  agitation  for  a  more 
modern  system  of  government  gradually  spread  to  the  East.  One 
of  the  first  Eastern  cities  to  give  serious  consideration  to  the  pro¬ 
position  was  Trenton,  where  the  subject  was  first  considered  at 
least  two  years  before  the  campaign  for  its  adoption  was  com¬ 
menced. 

To  my  mind,  the  long-felt  want  that  the  new  plan  has  sup¬ 
plied  lies  in  the  modernization  of  city  charter  provi¬ 
sions.  Conditions  that  were  predominant  fifty  ^ears  ago  are  un¬ 
important  factors  in  municipM  affairs  to-day;  the  plan  of  opera¬ 
tion  that  was  effectual  half  a  century  ago  can  no  longer  grapple 
with  present  day  problems.  Cities  that  do  not  keep  apace  with  the 
advancement  of  time,  instead  of  progressing,  will  find  themselves 
retrogressing.  A  municipal  corporation,  the  same  as  a  business 
corporation,  must  live  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  present  day  if  it 
desires  to  take  its  place  among  the  foremost  American  cities. 


o 


24  H  ’14  Z.T* 


T^^ls  I 

Commission  Government,  to  an  immeasurable  extent,  met  with 
immediate  success  because  it  embodies  the  modern  features  that 
are  lacking  in  the  charters  of  many  of  our  cities. 

The  important  characteristics  of  the  Commission  plan  as  it  has 
been  adopted  in  American  cities,  are: 

(1)  The  placing  of  the  municipal  governing  autliority  in  a 
small  body  of  men. 

(2)  Their  election  at  large,  instead  of  by  wards. 

(3)  The  power  to  exercise  administrative  and  legislative  func¬ 
tions  and  the  privilege  of  appointment  by  the  Board. 

(4)  The  placing  of  each  Commissioner  in  charge  of  a  definite 
department  and  making  him  responsible  to  the  people  for  its 
proper  and  intelligent  management. 

(5)  The  power  given  to  the  people  to  secure  honest  and  effi¬ 
cient  government  through  the  medium  of  the  initiative  and  refer¬ 
endum  and  the  recall.  The  intrinsic  value  of  Commission  Gov¬ 
ernment  really  rests  on  these  cardinal  principles. 

One  of  the  essential  characteristics  of  Commission  Government 
is  the  placing  of  a  Commissioner  in  absolute  control  of  a  distjnct 
department.  Thus  the  Commissioners  are  both  collectively  and 
individually  responsible  for  the  honest  and  efficient  conduct 
of  their  duties.  Under  the  ^^ew  Jersey  statute,  the  executive,  ad¬ 
ministrative  and  legislative  authority  in  cities  electing  five  Com¬ 
missioners  is  divided  into  five  separate  departments,  as  follows : 

Department  of  Public  Affairs. 

Department  of  Revenue  and  Finance. 

Department  of  Public  Safety. 

Department  of  Streets  and  Public  Improvements. 

Department  of  Parks  and  Public  Property. 

A  Commissioner,  on  being  assigned  to  any  one  of  these  depart¬ 
ments,  has  absolute  control  and  is  also  individually  responsible  to 
his  fellow  Commissioners  and  the  people  generally  for  the  actions 
of  himself  and  his  subordinates.  The  Mayor,  who  is  Director 
of  Public  Affairs  is  advisory  director  to  each  of  the  other  Commis¬ 
sioners.  The  Commission  meets  immediately  after  election  for  the 
purpose  of  organization.  At  that  time  the  assignments  to  the 
different  departments  are  made.  Although  the  Commissioner^ 
are  jn  Jiharge  of..  separate  departments  they  work  in  conjunction 
with  one  another — a  spirit  of  unity  permeates  the  meetings  of  the 
Commission.  This  is  one  of  the  principal  reasons  for  the  suc¬ 
cess  of  Commission  Government.  The  small  body  that  is  responsi¬ 
ble  for  the  governmental  advancement  of  the  municipality  outlines 


3 


/*  0 
(.  f  1  Iz- 


a  constructive  policy  to  be  pursued  by  its  subordinates.  This  is 
surely  an  improvement  over  the  old  system,  under  which  the  man¬ 
agement  of  every  department,  no  matter  how  small  or  unimportant 
it  might  be,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  was  termed 
head  of  that  department;  This  condition  led  to  a  confusion  of  au¬ 
thority  and  had  a  detrimental  effect  upon  the  efficiency  of  the  de¬ 
partment  itself.  The  concentration  of  power  and  authority  se- 
curedtl^ough  the  enforcement  of  Commission  Government  places 
stich^jnjnor  ^pajtments~direetl:y  under  one  head.  an^~cdhseque^ly 
greatly  simplifies  their  management. 

All  things  considered,  however,  there  is  one  particularly  insep¬ 
arable  feature  of  Commission  Rule  that  engenders  governmental 
^ffici^ncy,  and  that  is  the  recall.  An  official,  realizing  that  his 
every  act  and  recommendation  decides  his  continuance  in  office, 
will,  by  forced  if  not  natural  inclination,  strive  for  public  approba¬ 
tion.  This  he  well  knows,  can  best  be  secured  by  efficient  adminis¬ 
tration.  Under  the  old  system  of  government  it  is  possible  for  an 
elective  officer  to  forget  that  he  is  simply  a  public  servant  and  use 
his  official  influence  towards  securing  favoritism  for  some  private 
or  corporate  interest,  because,  having  been  elected  for  a  certain 
number  of  years,  he  is  practically  beyond  the  danger  of  removal 
until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office.  Under  Commission  Gov¬ 
ernment,  however,  the  remedy  is  very  simple  and  easily  applied. 
Upon  adequate  proof  of  inefficiency  or  dishonesty  of  an  official 
the  dissatisfied  voters  can  resort  to  the  recall,  and  if  the  majority 
so  rules  the  delinquent  is  legislated  out  of  office,  notwithstanding 
lat  he  has  still  several  years  of  his  original  term  to  serve. 

To  sum  up  briefly,  it  might  be  said  that  the  chief  characteristics 
of  Commission  Government  are  embodied  in  the  following  muni¬ 
cipal  reforms:  Centralizing  responsibility  upon  a  small  number 
of  elected  officials;  non-partisan  elections ;*^bolition  of  ward  lines; 
economy  of  administration,  greater  efficiency,  application  of  busi¬ 
ness  methods ;  referendum,  initiative  and  recall ;  simplification  of 
the  system  and  wide  publicity. 


Adopted  by  Trenton. 

Commission  Government  in  I^ew  Jersey  has  made  startling 
progress  in  the  short  time  during  which  it  has  been  a  governmental 
fixture  in  this  State.  The  bill  providing  for  its  adoption  was  in¬ 
troduced  and  passed  during  the  1911  session  of  the  New  Jersey 
Legislature.  The  law  provides  that  a  municipality,  on  the  peti¬ 
tion  of  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  voters  who  voted  for  the  Assembly 


4 


candidates  at  the  last  general  election,  may  demand  a  referendum 
election  on  the  question  of  a  change  of  charter.  The  hill  was  vigor¬ 
ously  opposed  hy  the  special  interests  and  the  old-time  leaders  of 
both  political  parties,  but,  like  all  the  other  progressive  measures 
that  were  introduced  during  Governor  Wilson’s  administration,  fin¬ 
ally  secured  a  place  on  the  statute  books  of  our  State.  The  Trenton 
Chamber  of  Commerce  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  a  new  and  modern  charter  for  the  city  of  Trenton,  waged  a 
strenuous  campaign  for  the  passage  of  the  hill. 

After  floundering  around  for  many  years  in  the  throes  of  Coun- 
cilmanic  Rule  Trenton  adopted  Commission  Government  at-  a 
special  election  held  in  June  1911,  thereby  gaining  the  distinction 
of  being  the  flrst  city  in  R^ew  Jersey  to  try  out  the  ^AValsh  Act.” 
The  change  became  operative  August  22d,  1911,  so  that  the  city 
has  now  had  more  than  two  years’  experience  with  its  new  charter. 

Since  that  time  many  other  municipalities  in  the  state  have  voted 
favorably  on  the  ^ Walsh  Act”  and  are  now  operating  under  its 
[provisions.  The  cities  besides  Trenton  that  now  have  Commission 
Government  charters  are:  Jersey  City,  R^utley,  Vineland,  Atlan¬ 
tic  City,  Ocean  City,  Longport,  Millville,  Passaic,  Ridgefleld 
Park,  Long  Branch,  Sea  Isle  City,  Wildwood,  Paterson,  Beverley, 
Bordentown,  Margate  City  and  Haddonfleld.  _ _ 

The  results  obtained  in  Trenton  have  clearly  demonstrated  be¬ 
yond  the  dreams  of  its  staunchest  supporters,  the  superiority  of 
the  new  system.  Both  in  economy  and  efficiency  the  city  has  ad¬ 
vanced  with  rapid  strides.  _  Por  the  flrst  few  months  we  contented 
ourselves  with  reorganizing  the  various  departments  and  straighten¬ 
ing  out  affairs  generally  which  we  found  to  he  in  a  deplorable  con¬ 
dition.  After  grouping  the  different  branches  of  the  government 
under  the  five  heads  provided  for  we  turned  our  attention  to  the 
establishment  of  a  modem  and  simplified  system  of  municipal  ac¬ 
counting,  which  was  installed  hy  a  recognized  firm  of  accountants, 
Price,  Waterhouse  Company,  of  New  York  City,  to  supersede 
the  obsolete  form  of  bookkeeping  that  the  old  Councils  had  toler¬ 
ated  for  years 


Finances  Under  New  Administration. 

Recently  we  had  this  same  firm  of  accountants  audit  the  city 
books  for  the  last  fiscal  year — the  first  entire  year  for  which  the 
Commission  could  justly  be  charged  with  responsibility — which 
disclosed  the  following  pertinent  facts : 


s 


(1)  The  cost  of  administering  of  the  government  for  the  last 
fiscal  year  was  $4,377.31  less  than  during  the  preceding  one. 

(2)  The  ratables  of  the  city  were  increased  3.76  per  cent,  dur¬ 
ing  the  year. 

(3)  The  bonded  debt  of  the  city  was  decreased  more  than  3.50 
per  cent. 

(4)  The  tax  rate  for  the  first  fiscal  year  was  reduced  two  cents 
on  each  one  hundred  dollars  of  valuation. 

The  tax  rate  for  the  second  year  under  Commission  Government 
shows  an  increase  of  .08  or  $2.18  compared  to  $2.10  last  year. 
This  increased  rate  is  not  chargeable  to  the  City  Commission, 
but  is  due  to  an  increase  in  the  county  budget,  to  an  increase  in 
the  State  School  tax  and  to  an  increase  in  the  local  appropriation 
for  school  purposes,  over  all  of  which  causes  the  City  Commission 
has  no  control.  For  local  purposes  only,  meaning  what  the  city 
must  realize  to  meet  its  own  expenses,  the  rate  is  $1.47. 

The  total  increase  in  the  city  budget,  both  for  fixed  charges 
and  operating  expenses,  is  $54,956.18,  while  the  total  increase  in 
tlie  city’s  revenue  for  1913  over  1912  aggregates  $69,491.45.  So 
that  with  a  tax  rate  of  $2.10  instead  of  $2.18  for  this  year  the  city’s 
revenues  would  have  been  $14,535.27  in  excess  of  city  expenses. 
The  higher  tax  rate  is  due  to  an  increase  of  $24,750  in  the  city 
school  appropriation,  an  increase  of  $17,483.70  in  the  State  school 
tax,  and  an  increase  of  .$31,358.52  in  the  county  tax.  Deducting 
from  these  increases  the  $14,535.27,  or  the  surplus  revenue  the 
Commission  would  have  had  available  to  reduce  the  tax  rate,  there 
remains  $59,056.95  to  be  taken  care  of  by  an  increased  tax  rate. 
And  in  order  to  provide  this  $59,056.95,  over  which  the  Com¬ 
mission  has  no  control,  there  is  necessary  an  increase  in  tlie  tax 
rate,  on  the  basis  of  $75,000,000  of  city  ratables,  of  approximately 
eight  cents. 

In  connection  with  the  tax  rates  under  Commission  Government 
it  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  note  that  for  three  years  preceding  the 
adoption  of  the  new  form,  the  rate  had  been  advancing  at  an  av¬ 
erage  increase  of  seventeen  points  a  year,  and  that  if  that  ad¬ 
vance  had  continued  under  the  present  administration,  the  tax 
rate  would  now  be  about  $2.46  on  every  one  himdred  dollars  of 
valuation. 

(5)  The  revenue  deficit  of  $37,808.31,  that  existed  at  the  close 
of  the  fiscal  year  1912,  was  reduced  to  $12,361.18.  When  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  took  office  the  revenue  deficit  was 
$61,807.39. 


6 


(6)  The  apparent  necessity  for  issuance  of  bonds,  when  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  took  office,  to  fund  the  revenue  deficit 
has  disappeared,  and  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  at  the  close  of 
the  current  fiscal  year  the  revenue  deficit  will  have  been  entirely 
wiped  out  and  that  instead  of  it  the  city  will  have  a  revenue  sur¬ 
plus. 

(7)  The  appointment  of  a  collector  of  delinquent  taxes  brought 
about  a  material  increase  in  the  amount  of  back  and  current  taxes 
collected,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  1912,  the  tax  collec¬ 
tions  for  the  year  amounted  to  81.19  per  cent,  of  the  entire  levy 
for  that  year. 

(8)  During  the  present  fiscal  year,  up-to-date,  the  city  has  not 
been  obliged  to  negotiate  any  temporary  loans.  This  is  an  unpre- 
cendented  condition  as  it  has  always  been  an  annual  custom  to 
borrow  about  $250,000  for  maintenance  and  operating  expenses, 
pending  the  collection  of  anticipated  taxes. 

The  city’s  fiscal  year  begins  on  March  1st  and  the  taxes  for  the 
•  year  are  not  due  until  the  following  December  and  in  the  past  it 
has  always  been  necessary  to  borrow  money  to  liquidate  the  expen¬ 
ses  occurring  during  the  intervening  period.  Under  the  present 
well-regulated  financial  system  of  our  municipal  government,  the 
Comptroller  used  for  operating  expenses  funds  that  were  available 
for  other  purposes  but  which  were  being  unused  at  that  time.  By 
so  doing  he  has  saved  the  city  between  $3,000  and  $4,000  in  inter¬ 
est  charges  that  would  have  occurred  had  the  money  been  borro’wed 
from  the  banks.  Another  contributing  cause  that  has  led  to  this 
condition  is  the  collection  of  back  taxes  through  the  efforts  of  the 
Delinquent  Tax  Collector.  Thousands  of  dollars  have  been 
brought  into  the  City  Treasurer  by  the  energy  of  this  official  and 
the  money  thus  collected  .  has  been  appropriated  for  current  ex¬ 
penses. 

(9)  The  value  of  fixed  property,  equipment,  furniture,  tools, 
supplies,  etc.,  owned  by  the  city  is  $6,833,130.42. 

Prior  to  the  adoption  of  Commission  Government  in  Trenton, 
the  officers’  annual  statements  were  vague.  No  general  scheme 
of  keeping  the  city’s  accounts,  as  those  of  one  corporation,  had 
ever  been  adopted ;  consequently,  city  funds  were  badly  entangled. 
Over  $35,000  of  unexpended  proceeds  of  bond  issues  for  improve¬ 
ments  were  used  to  run  the  city,  and  $114,000  had  been  expended 
unknowingly  on  sewer  construction  out  of  administrative  revenues. 
Over  $30,000  of  collections  from  streets  improvement  assessments, 
intended  to  be  used  for  bond  redemption,  were  expended  for  cur¬ 
rent  purposes.  On  the  date  of  the  inauguration  of  Commission 


7 


Government,  there  was  a  current  administrative  deficit  of  over 
$110,000,  although  some  few  years  prior  the  city  had  issued 
$509,000  of  bonds  to  pay  the  deficit  then  outstanding. 

On  September  19th,  1904,  the  Common  Council  authorized 
a  bond  issue  of  $569,000,  hearing  interest  at  4  per  cent.,  for  th# 
purpose  of  funding  the  city’s  ‘^floating  indebtedness”  then  ex¬ 
isting.  !;[ 

The  ordinance  recites  that  the  ^^floating  indebtedness”  was  over 
$750,000,  the  relation  between  this  amount  and  the  current  deficit, 
which  is  the  excess  of  such  a  debt  over  the  assets  applicable  to  its 
reduction,  is  not  determinable  for  the  reason  that  there  are  no  re¬ 
cords  from  which  such  information  could  be  gathered  without 
considerable  labor.  It  is  fair,  however,  to  assume  that  the  bond 
issue  was  at  least  sufficient  to  refund  the  entire  deficit. 

I7otwithstanding  this,  at  the  time  of  the  inauguration  of  the 
Commission,  six  years  later,  the  financial  statement  disclosed  a 
deficit  of  $01,000.  By  February  29th,  1912,  under  Commission 
Government,  it  had  decreased  to  $37,000,  and  by  February  28th,  . 

1913,  the  end  of  the  last  fiscal  year  it  had  further  decreased  to 
$12,000.  At  this  rate  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  deficit  will  no 
longer  exist  at  the  end  of  the  present  fiscal  year,  February  2Sth, 

1914. ' 

For  the  purpose  of  comparison  let  us  form  a  hypothesis  as  to 
the  state  of  the  deficit  under  C'ouncilmanic  Government  at  Febru¬ 
ary  28th,  1914.  We  find  that  from  October,  1904,  to  August, 
1911,  a  deficit  of  $61,000,  or  at  the  rate  of  $8,800  a  year,  had 
been  incurred.  If  we  assume  that  the  deficit  would  have  increased 
all  the  same  rate  to  February  28th,  1914,  the  amount  would  bo 
approximately  $84,000.  If  at  this  date  the  administration  de¬ 
sired  to  issue  bonds  to  make  good  the  amount  and  the  same  class 
of  bonds  were  issued  as  in  1904  we  would  find  the  city  obligated 


to  pay: 

Principal  of  bonds.  . .  . .  $84,000 

Interest  for  30  years  at  4  per  cent .  100,800 

Or  a  total  of . $184,800 


an  expense  which  the  Commission  has  made  unnecessary. 


Itemized  Savings. 

The  city’s  financial  statements  are  now  model  and  each  Depart 
ment  is  furnished  with  a  statement  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  in- 


8 


come  and  expenditures,  monthly.  It  is  easy  to  understand  that 
with  this  information  constantly  available  no  excuse  exists  for  a 
recurrence  of  old  conditioijs. 

The  income  for  the  year  ending  February  28th,  1913,  waa 
$26,000  more  than  the  expenses.  The  expenses  for  the  last  four 
years  prior  to  Commission  Government  had  increased  at  an  average 
of  $66,000  each  year.  Expense  of  last  year  immediately  prior  to 
Commission  Government’s  adoption  showed  $102,000  increase 
while  the  first  complete  year  of  Commission  Government  showed 
decrease  of  over  $4,000  under  the  year  prior. 

On  official  advertising  and  city  printing  we  have  saved  approxi* 
mately  $10,000  a  year.  Other  savings,  that  have  been  realized  by 
the  policy  of  retrenchment  which  the  Commission  is  following,  are : 


Pumping  Station,  salary  saving .  $4,375  60 

City  Hall,  salary  saving .  1,807  48 

Municipal  Parks,  salary  saving . .  1,500  00 

Public  Properties,  savings  in  purchasing 

coal  supply.  . . .  .  .  .  5,256  00 

Tax  Office,  salary  saving . .  .  2,400  00 

Treasurer’s  Office,  salary  saving .  2,100  00 

Assessor’s  Office,  salary  saving .  3,300  00 

Cbmptroller’s  Office,  salary  saving . .  .  1,200  00 

Water  Department,  salary  saving .  4,800  00 


Street  Department,  saving  on  cost  of  work.  .  15,000  00 
Cost  of  repairing  asphalt  streets  reduced  from 


$1.50  to  .97  cents  a  square  yard. 

Cleaning  Streets,  salary  saving.  .  4,700  00 

Overseer  of  Poor  maintenance  saving .  1,000  00 

Elections  . .  . .  5,000  00 

Legal  Department,  saving  of  fees.  .  .  . .  4,500  00 

Almshouse,  maintenance  saving .  6,000  00 

License  Tags  .....  . .  500  00 

City  Clerk,  salary  saving .  1,000  00 

Abolition  of  Fees.  . . .  1,000  00 

Police  Courts,  salary  saving .  1,600  00 

Saving  in  Drugs . .  723  00 

Garbage  and  Ashes  Dept.,  salary  saving.  .  .  1,200  00 

Board  of  Health,  salary  saving .  400  00 

Police  Department,  salary  saving .  2,500  00 

Fire  Department,  salary  saving . .  1,700  00 


(  The  savings  made  in  the  Police  and  Fire  Departments  are  ex¬ 
clusive  of  the  salaries  of  the  members  of  the  Departments  "which 


9 


are  fixed  by  State  law  that  provides  for  a  mandatory  increase 


until  a  certain  maximum  is  reached.) 

Excise  Department,  salary  saving .  1,500 

Saving  in  Dog  Catcher’s  fees .  1,316 


Departmental  Elxpenditures. 

f 

The  Department  of  Public  Affairs  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  Feb¬ 
ruary  28th,  1913,  showed  a  decrease  in  expenditures  under  the 
previous  fiscal  year  of  $15,542.75  or  18.18  per  cent.  This  De¬ 
partment  for  three  years  previous  had  shown  an  average  yearly 
increase  of  $10,509.42  or  19.15  per  cent. 

The  Department  of  Revenue  and  Finance  for  the  same  period 
showed  a  decrease  of  $5,508.19  or  .64  per  cent.,  while  the  average 
yearly  increase  of  this  Department  for  the  three  previous  years  was 
$5,164.26  or  7.58  per  cent. 

The  Department  of  Parks  and  Public  Properties  also  made  a 
substantial  decrease  in  expenditures  during  the  past  fiscal  year 
amounting  to  $3,330.10  or  2.78  per  cent.  The  average  •  yearly 
increase  of  this  department  for  the  previous  three  years  was  9.57 
per  cent,  or  $9,319.85. 

The  Department  of  Public  Safety  showed  an  increase  in  expen¬ 
ditures  during  the  past  fiscal  year  of  $14,536.67  or  4.09.  This 
increase,  however,  is  entirely  unavoidable  because  of  the  increases 
in  policemen  and  firemen’s  salaries  made  mandatory  by  enactments 
of  the  State  Legislature.  This  Department  has  made  remarkable 
progress  and  is  one  of  the  best  attestations  to  the  superiority  of 
Commission  Government.  The  increase  during  the  past  year  is 
entirely  overshadowed  when  compared  to  the  average  increase  that 
was  shown  during  the  three  previous  years.  During  that  period 
the  Department  showed  an  annual  increase  of  $20,109.02  or  6.57 
per  cent. 

The  Department  of  Streets  and  Public  Imrpovements  also  showed 
an  increase  in  expenditures  amounting  to  $467.07  or  .42  which  is 
explained  by  the  fact  that  Commission  Government  became  opera¬ 
tive  at  a  time  when  many  of  the  guarantees  on  street  pavements 
were  just  expiring  and  this  Department  was  under  an  unusually 
large  expense  in  repairing  these  pavements.  Convincing  proof  of 
the  economic  policy  that  is  being  pursued  in  the  Department  of 
Streets  is  shovm  by  the  fact  that  the  average  yearly  increase  for 
the  three  years  previous  was  $11,483.18  or  14.55  per  cent. 


lO 


City’s  Assets  and  Liabilities. 


On  February  28th,  1913,  the  city’s  capital  assets,  exclusive  of 
those  of  The  Trenton  Water  Works,  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the 
Director  of  Revenue  and  Finance,  amounted  to  $10,179,128.98, 


The  assets  were  divided  as  follows : 

Fixed  Properties .  $6,010,246  63 

Equipment,  Furniture,  Tools,  supplies,  etc .  667,494  54 

Cost  of  Uncompleted  Improvements .  255,389  25 

Assessments  Outstanding  .  443,471  85 

Sewer  Spread  Assessments  in  Suspense .  253,895  64 

Assessments  Unlevied  . 604,887  53 

Street  Improvement  Assessments  (City’s  Share). .  193,934  27 

Cash  on  hand  and  in  Bank.  . . 111,274  50 

Cash,  School  Improvement  Fund .  16,460  19 

Sinking  Fund,  Cash  and  Investments .  1,722,074  58 


$10,179,128  98 


The  city’s  liabilities,  as  shown  by  the  report,  excluding  the  Tren¬ 
ton  Water  Works,  amounted,  on  February  28th,  1913,  to 
$5,573,794.47,  as  follows: 


Bonded  Indebtedness .  $5,172,310  00 

Temporary  Improvement  Certificates .  189,100  00 

Stamped  Warrants,  for  Street  Improvements.  .  .  .  151,670  01 

Accounts  Payable . 8,009  55 

Reserves  . 21,790  00 

Advances  from  General  Fund.  .  .  . .  30,914  91 


$5,573,794  47 

Capital  Surplus . .  4,605,334  51 


$10,179,128  98 


Financial  Condition  of  Water  Department. 

The  following  condensed  statement  shows  the  financial  condition 
of  the  Trenton  Water  Works  wliich  is  owned  by  the  City: 


Fixed  Properties  and  Equipment . .  .  $2,019,366  69 

Sinking  Fund  . .  452,423  53 

Accounts  Receivable  .  . .  . .  10,492  70 

i 


1 1 


Cash 


7,170  98 


Total  . -$2,489,453  90 

Less  Bonds  Outstanding .  945,500  00 

Surplus  .  $1,543,953  90 


Business  Supersedes  Politics. 

To  enumerate  the  many  improvements  and  accomplishments 
that  have  been  witnessed  in  Trenton  under  Commission  govern¬ 
ment  administration,  aside  from  the  financial  curtailments,  would 
be  bordering  on  the  impossible.  We  have  witnessed  the  destruction 
of  partisan  politics  in  the  deliberations  of  our  governing  body,  not 
one  partisan  vote  having  been  taken  during  the  two  years  of  its 
existence,  and  this  in  face  of  the  fact  that  the  Commission  Com¬ 
prises  three  Democrats  and  two  Bepublicans. 

During  our  administration  we  will  erect  and  put  into  operation 
a  filtration  plant,  costing  approximately  one-half  million  dollars 
and  will  have  plans  designed  and  probably  commence  actual  work 
on  the  construction  of  a  sewage  disposal  plant  and  garbage  incin¬ 
erating  plant,  the  latter  to  supersede  our  present  Crematory. 
We  have  also  provided  for  two  new  fire  stations,  twenty-five  addi¬ 
tional  policemen,  improved  streets,  better  lighting  facilities,  in¬ 
creased  park  territory,  harbor  facilities  and  many  other  improve¬ 
ments. 

The  filtration  plant,  the  building  of  which  the  old  Common 
Council  avoided  for  years,  is  now  in  course  of  construction  and 
will  be  completed  at  a  saving  of  $5,000  per  million  gallons.  With 
30,000,000  gallons  capacity,  which  this  plant  will  have,  a  saving 
of  $150,000  will  result  as  compared  with  the  cost  of  similar  plants 
at  Grand  Rapids,  ISTew  Orleans  and  Montreal. 

We  have  also  arranged  to  increase  our  parking  spaces  and  re¬ 
creation  centres  by  additional  land  deeded  to  the  city  by  the  Penn¬ 
sylvania  Railroad  Company  and  other  water  front  properties  that 
have  been  secured.  Under  contemplated  plans,  there  will  be  when 
completed  a  continuous  park  bordering  the  Assanpink  Creek  which 
runs  nearly  the  entire  length  of  the  city  and  out  into  the  adjacent 
country  for  a  distance  of  five  or  six  miles.  Besides,  in  conjunc¬ 
tion  with  the  State  of  R^ew  Jersey,  we  are  developing  a  spacious 
park  of  47  .acres  in  the  rear  of  the  State  Capitol  which  will  extend 
along  our  water  front. 

As  the  result  of  the  deepening  of  the  Delaware  River  in  front 
of  Trenton  which  stream  will  then  be  navigable  from  Philadelphia 


12 


up  to  our  city,  we  will  secure  over  500,000  cubic  yards  of 
dredged  material  that  we  have  already  planned  to  utilize  in  various 
ways.  The  material  will  he  used  as  for  a  levee  in  connection 
with  the  proposed  sewage  disposal  plant;  also  for  the  filling  in  of 
lowlands  in  the  southern  section  of  the  city,  along  the  river,  where 
we  intend  to  establish  a  beautiful  park.  A  new  street  is  planned 
along  the  river  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city  that  will  lead  from 
the  docks  to  the  very  heart  of  Trenton  and  which  will  be  a  valuable 
outlet  for  our  manufacturers  and  business  houses  who  will  use  the 
Delaware  Diver  for  their  shipments.  ■ 

Standards  of  Efficiency  Increased. 

In  the  line  of  efficiency  we  can  point  to  the  devoted  subordinate 
who  devotes  his  entire  time  to  the  conduct  of  his  office  and  who  is 
to  be  found  at  his  desk  on  every  working  day  from  9  A.  M.  to  5  P. 
M.  Other  marks  of  the  efficient  manner  in  which  our  city  is  be¬ 
ing  operated  lies  in  the  abolition  of  all  salaried  boards,  the  instal¬ 
lation  of  a  modern  system  of  accounting,  open  meetings  for  the 
transaction  of  public  business  and  a  business-like  method  of  pur¬ 
chasing  supplies. 

The  Commission  is  about  to  give  some  attention  to  taxation,  and, 
if  possible,  ascertain  new  legal  sources  of  revenue.  The  Mayor 
has  suggested  the  employment  of  ^Tax  ferrets’’  to  delve  into  the 
records  of  the  tax  ^^dodger,”  who  habitually  swears  off  his  personal 
taxes,  with  the  result  that  the  city  annually  loses  several  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars  to  which  it  is  justly  entitled. 

We  have  secured  improved  trolley  service  for  our  citizens  by 
making  the  trolley  companies  live  up  to  the  provisions  of  their 
franchises,  and  are  endeavoring  to  bring  about  amicably  a  system 
of  inter-line  transfers  whereby  passengers  can  be  transferred  from 
one  line  to  another,  at  designated  junctions. 

Our  Water  Department  has  been  made  self-supporting  and  dur¬ 
ing  the  first  year  new  mains  to  the  extent-  of  $70,000  were  con¬ 
structed  and  paid  for  from  the  revenue  of  the  office. 

Our  Street  Department  is  in  better  condition  than  at  any 
time  in  the  city’s  history.  We  have  eliminated  patented  pavements 
and  are  giving  out  the  work  under  open  specifications 
and  alternative  competitive  bidding.  Dearly  $200,000  of 
street  paving  work  has  been  done  by  the  Department  un¬ 
der  Commission  rule,  at  an  approximate  saving  of  $20,000. 
We  have  our  own  street  repair  plant,  and  have  secured 
the  services  of  a  chemist,  who  analyzes  the  material  for 
street  work  before,  it  is  accepted.  Our  streets  are  kept  in  a 


13 


cleaner  condition  at  smaller  cost.  The  police,  besides  being  tbe 
guardians  of  peace  and  order,  also  act  as  street  and  garbage  in¬ 
spectors,  and  report  boles  in  streets,  poor  sidewalks,  and  all  pave¬ 
ments  that  are  in  need  of  repair.  One  Police  Judge  and  Clerk 
no^v  do  tbe  work  of  two  Judges  and  two  clerks  at  a  great  saving 
and  more  efficiency. 

The  city’s  lighting  facilities  have  been  increased  and  improved 
by  the  introducton  of  circuit  lights  in  the  business  centre  that 
form  the  nucleus  of  a  ^^white  way.”  It  is  our  policy  to  make 
Trenton  one  of  tbe  best  lighted  cities  in  tbe  East. 

Million  Dollar  Bond  Issue  for  Permanent  Improvements. 

Since  taking  office  nearly  $1,000,000  worth  of  bonds  have  been 
issued  for  peimianent  improvements  to  city  property.  This  in¬ 
cludes  new  schools,  paving  and  repaving  of  streets,  new^  streets 
a  retaining  w^all  along  tbe  Delaware  Piver,  and  improvements 
to  tbe  Police  and  Fire  Department.  Under  our  administration  tbe 
salaries  of  tbe  school  teachers  of  Trenton  have  been  increased  by 
a  total  of  $20,000,  which  applies  exclusively  to  grade  teachers. 
About  350  teachers  are  benefitted. 

An  excise  policy  of  limiting  the  number  of  saloons  in  Trenton 
to  one  for  every  500  of  population  was  adopted  by  the  Board  of 
Commissioners.  We  also  voted  an  increase  of  $50.00  in  the  retail 
and  $100.00  in  wholesale  license  fee,  which  already  has  shown  a 
tendency  to  elevate  the  traffic.  The  character  of  an  applicant  for 
license  is  thoroughly  investigated  under  our  new  policy,  and  excise 
laws  and  regulations  are  rigidly  enforced. 

An  Excise  Detective,  who  investigates  all  character  of  license*} 
is  another  innovation. 

A  substantial  reduction  in  yearly  expenses  has  been  effected 
in  the  City  Clerk’s  office  by  the  abolition  of  all  fees  for  officials, 
who  now  work  on  a  salary  basis. 

New  Source  of  Revenue. 

Through  the  recent  efforts  of  the  Director  of  Streets  and  Public 
Improvements  the  city’s  revenue  has  sustained  a  substantial  an¬ 
nual  increase.  For  years  past  Trenton  has  been  supplying  the 
surrounding  townships  with  fire  plugs  for  an  annual  rental,  hut 
under  Councilmanic  regime  the  collection  was  never  enforced. 
The  Director  of  Streets  has  effected  a  compromise  with  the  Town¬ 
ship  of  Hamilton  for  the  payment  of  approximately  $2,200  for 
arrearages  and  a  new  contract  has  been  made  by  which  the  town- 


ship  will  pay  the  city  $10  per  year  for  each  connection.  As  there 
are  over  three  hundred  fire  plugs  in  Hamilton  Township,  the  city’s 
revenue  will  be  increased  over  $3,000  from  this  source  alone.  Ne¬ 
gotiations  are  now  under  way  for  the  arrangement  of  similar  con¬ 
tracts  wdth  the  other  townships  in  Mercer  County  that  are  using 
the'  city’s  fire  plug  connections. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  displays  of  the  effectiveness  of 
Commmission  Government  is  to  be  seen  in  the  office  of  the  City 
Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures.  During  the  eighteen  months 
of  his  administration  this  ofificial  has  tested  25,307  different 
weights  and  measures  and  has  made  periodical  visits  to  every 
itore,  firm  and  business  house  in  Treiiton  that  use  any  character 
j)f  weights  or  measures.  He  has  condemned  and  confiscated  2,248 
articles  that  did  not  measure  up  to  the  required  standards,  a  great 
nmnber  of  which  are  on  exhibit  at  his  offices  in  the  municipal 
building.  He  has  also  hailed  all  offenders  into  the  local 
police  court  on  charges  of  using  short  weights.  His  persistency 
and  never  failing  vigilance  have  had  the  effect  of  breaking  up  a 
pernicious  habit  that  was  formerly  allowed  to  exist  in  Trenton  to 
the  detriment  of  the  house  wives  and  the  public  in  general. 

Indigent  Settlement. 

The  Mayor  is  now  considering  plans  for  the  formation 
of  an  Indigent  Settlement  by  which  we  will  secure  the  centrali¬ 
zation  of  all  public  charities.  The  plan  under  discussion  con¬ 
templates  the  erection  of  a  new  Almshouse  on  land  adjacent  to 
the  site  of  the  present  Municipal  and  Tuberculosis  Hospitals.  The 
Mayor  has  suggested  that  the  present  Almshouse  wdiich  has  out¬ 
lived  its  usefulness,  be  abandoned  and  the  site  utilized  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  High  School. 

Under  the  Direction  of  the  Tuberculosis  and  Sanitation  League, 
we  are  giving  considerable  study  to  tuberculosis  and  during  the 
past  summer  conducted  an  open  air  camp  at  Neptune  Heights, 
where  anemic  children  of  Trenton  were  given  the  benefits  of  pure 
air,  proper  exercise,  rest  and  food.  Public  lectures  on  Tubercu¬ 
losis,  under  the  direction  of  the  league,  are  given  at  stated  inter¬ 
vals  for  the  benefit  and  instruction  of  our  townspeople.’ 

The  old  Almshouse  has  been  improved,  a  City  Dispensary  has 
been  established  in  the  Municipal  Building,  and  a  Dental  Clinic 
is  in  operation  in  the  same  building.  We  have  three  City  Physi¬ 
cians,  a  competent  nurse,  and  a  splendid  medical  equipment  to 
care  for  the  indigent.  Our  Tuberculosis  Hospital  is  one  of  tho 
best  of  its  kind  in  the  State. 


15 


Summary  of  Accomplishments. 


In  a  brief  summary  of  some  of  the  improvements  that  have 
resulted  in  Trenton  under  Commission  rule,  can  be  included : 

(1)  Over  48,000  feet  of  water  pipe  have  been  cleaned  during 
the  past  year,  and  the  balance  of  the  mains  will  be  treated  likewise 
before  the  new  filtration  plant  is  put  in  operation.  This  work 
will  cost  approximately  $25,000. 

(2)  Unsightly  telegraph  and  telephone  poles  have  been  removed 
from  our  principal  streets. 

(3)  Appropriation  for  School  of  Industrial  Arts  has  been  in¬ 
creased  to  enable  the  institution  of  day  classes. 

(4)  Abolition  of  all  boards  except  School  and  Library  Boards, 
both  of  which  are  non-salaried  bodies.  The  Board  of  School  Esti¬ 
mates  consists  of  three  members  of  the  City  Commission  and  two 
members  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

(5)  Many  new  miles  of  sidewalks  and  the  extension  of  many 
streets. 

(6)  Careful  supervision  in  the  laying  out  of  new  streets  to  con¬ 
form  with  the  established  building  line. 

(7)  Ordinances  to  insure  the  proper  clearance  on  public  side¬ 
walks  prohibiting  sidewalk  displays  beyond  a  certain  limit. 

(8)  Plan  being  prepared  for  development  of  a  park  system 
along  Dela'ware  Biver  on  city’s  front. 

(9)  Tuberculosis  Clinic  and  modem  Dispensary  have  been  es¬ 
tablished  in  the  Municipal  building. 

(10)  How  acquiring  land  both  by  purchase  and  condemnation 
for  proposed  municipal  docks. 

(11)  Closer  supervision  of  alleys  and  repairing  of  same. 

(12)  Many  miles  of  new  sewers  and  drains  have  been  built. 

(13)  Ordinance  passed  setting  standard  of  ice  to  be  sold  in  the 
city  to  insure  consumers  against  impurities  of  ice  taken  from  pol¬ 
luted  ponds,  lakes,  etc.  Also  a  new  trafiic  ordinance  and  plumbing 

.  code  have  been  adopted. 

(14)  Many  miles  of  new  street  pavements  have  been  laid  and 
many  more  miles  of  existing  pavements  repaired.  We  took  office 
just  at  a  time  when  a  number  of  guarantees  on  street  pavements 
had  expired,  which  increased  our  expenses  for  street  work. 

(15)  Theatres  and  moving  picture  houses  are  kept  under  closer 
surveillence  than  ever  before. 

(IG)  All  city  bills  are  now  paid  promptly  and  the  city’s  busi¬ 
ness  is  transacted  with  greater  expedition  than  formerly. 

(17)  Open  air  school  rooms  for  the  express  benefit  of  the  chil- 


dren  whom  the  medical  authorities  of  the  schools  decide  axe  in 
need  of  fresh  air  treatment. 

(18)  Our  Municipal  and  Tuberculosis  Hospitals  have  been 
greatly  improved. 

(19)  Besides  adding  two  new  companies  to  our  Fire  Depart¬ 
ment,  we  have  purchased  several  new  fire  engines,  a  new  truck 
and  other  equipment. 

(20)  The  Poor  Department  has  installed  a  new  system  of  re¬ 
cording  its  cases,  and  an  extra  clerk  has  been  provided.  Holwith- 
standing  these  additional  expenes  the  Department  has  effected  a 
saving  in  maintenance  and  operating  expenses. 

(21)  The  police  ofiicers  are  instructed  to  keep  a  vigilant  look¬ 
out  for  dog-owners  and  venders,  who  seek  to  defraud  the  city  by 
not  obtaining  the  required  license.  In  this  way  the  city’s  reve¬ 
nues  have  been  increased  several  thousands  of  dollars. 

(22)  In  order  to  prevent  unnecessary  consumption  of  our  water 
supply,  water  meters  have  been  installed  in  factories  and  manufac¬ 
turing  plants,  hotels  and  other  large  buildings,  with  favorable  re¬ 
sults. 

(23)  A  municipal  garage  has  been  established  where  all  the 
automobiles  used  by  the  various  departments  of  the  government 
are  housed.  Several  automobiles  have  been  bought  by  the  city 
to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  service.  These  machines  also  save 
the  employment  of  additional  subordinates. 

(24)  Our  Health  Department  has  been  increased,  both  numer¬ 
ically  and  in  point  of  efficiency,  by  the  addition  of  a  dairy 
inspector,  and  other  employees,  who  give  attention  to  health  and 
sanitary  matters. 

(25)  Under  Commission  Government  the  standard  of  public 
morals  in  Trenton  has  been  materially  raised.  All  city  ordinances 
and  State  laws  are  rigidly  enforced  and  the  freedomi  of  policemen 
and  firemen  from  the  political  yoke  that  formerly  encompassed 
them  has  unquestionably  made  Trenton  a  better  city  from  every 
viewpoint. 

Concessions  Gained  from  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 

As  the  result  of  a  controversy,  back  in  the  summer  of  1912,  be¬ 
tween  the  Mayor  and  the  Pennsylvania  Bailroad  Company,  over 
the  location  of  a  bridge  the  company  proposes  to  place  across  the 
Delaware  Biver,  the  city  gained  the  following  valuable  concessions: 

(a)  The  proposed  bridge  over  the  Delaware  that  was 
to  have  been  built  one  mile  below  the  present  bridge  and 


thus  bottle  up  the  Trenton  Harbor  will  now  be  located  at 
nearly  an  additional  mile  further  down  the  river,  thus 
giving  the  city  two  miles  of  docking  grounds  for  pres¬ 
ent  and  future  development. 

(h)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  agreed  to 
replace  12  of  its  old  bridges  over  the  canal  and  feeder  by 
new  steel  bridges  of  ornamental  design  and  entirely  ade¬ 
quate  to  accommodate  the  traffic  of  the  city. 

(c)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  agreed  to 
immediately  relieve  the  congestion  at  Prospect  Street,  by 
the  erection  of  such  a  bridge  as  will  meet  with  approval 
of  the  residents  of  that  vicinity,  and  thus  end  the  long 
protest  as  to  danger  and  inconvenience  at  that  point. 

(d)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  agreed  to 
equip  the  bridge  over  the  canal  at  South  Broad  Street 
with  a  power  plant  to  facilitate  traffic  there. 

(e)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  agreed  not 
to  oppose  the  condemnation  proceedings  that  have  been 
started  to  acquire  land  along  the  Delaware  River  for  the 
purpose  of  harbor  development. 

(/)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  agi'eed  to  sell  to  the 
city  of  Trenton  at  a  fair  price,  various  tracts  of  land 
along  the  Assanpink  Creek,  north  of  State  Street, 
needed  for  park  purposes. 

(g)  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  agreed  to 
give  to  the  city  of  Trenton  its  rights  to  the  bed  of  the  As¬ 
sanpink  Creek  from  Clinton  Street  to  the  Delaware 
River. 

(/i)  To  erect  safety  gates  at  all  railroad  and  canal 
crossings  for  the  protection  of  life  and  limb. 

In  addition  to  the  above  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  asserted  its  willingness  to  co-operate  with 
the  Mayor  and  the  City  Commissioners  in  any  improve¬ 
ments  that  would  be  of  mutual  advantage.  This  agree¬ 
ment  facilitates  the  opening  of  negotiations  for  a  new 
freight  station  and  passenger  station,  and  other  improve¬ 
ments  that  Trenton  will  shortly  receive.  • 

During  the  present  Winter  the  Railroad  Company  will 
construct  a  new  ornamental  street  wide  brid^re  at  the 
State  Street  dossing.  This  bridge  will  be  built  wide 
enough  to  allow  eastward  and  westward  trolley  and  ve¬ 
hicular  traffic  to  pass  at  the  same  time.  The  Company 
will  also  beautify  its  surroundings  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
bridge. 


i8 


Page  after  page  could  be  devoted  to  our  accomplishments  and 
T’esults  under  Commission  Government.  But  this  is  unnecessary. 
Commission  Government  has  come  to  stay,  not  only  in  Trenton, 
but  in  every  municipality  that  has  adopted  it.  Convincing  proof 
of  this  rests  in  the  fact  that  over  three  hundred  American  cities — 
of  all  sizes  and  descriptions — ^have  forsaken  their  old  system  of 
government  for  the  Commission  form,  and  in  not  a  single  instance 
has  a  city  reverted  to  its  former  antiquated  rule. 

Personnel  of  Commission. 

Numerous  inquiries  are  made  as  to  the  character  and  calibre 
of  men  who  were  chosen  by  the  people  of  Trenton  toi  administer 
city  affairs  under  its  Commission  charter.  The  five  men  who  are 
holding  Commissionerships  at  the  present  time  were  elected  from 
a  field  of  sixty-seven  candidates,  who  filed  petitions  at  the  pri¬ 
maries.  All  of  them  have  had  wide  experience  in  business  and 
public  life.  Poliowing  the  election,  the  Commissioners  met  and 
decided  upon  Frederick  W.  Donnelly  as  Mayor. 

Mayor  Donnelly  has  been  a  retail  merchant  for  years  and  is 
head  of  the  Frederick  W.  Donnelly  Clothing  Company.  For  a 
long  period  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  waterways  and  other 
public  movements.  At  the  present  time  he  is  President  of  the  New 
Jersey  Ship  Canal  Commission ;  President  of  the  Trenton-Phila- 
delphia  Waterways ’Association ;  Vice-President  of  the  National 
Eivers  and  Harbors  Congress ;  Vice-President  and  one  of  the  char¬ 
ter  members  of  the  Atlantic  Deeper  Waterways  Association,  all  cf 
which  projects  Trenton  is  vitally  interested  in.  The  Mayor  is 
President  of  the  Mercer  County  Tuberculosis  and  Sanitation 
League  and  is  also  President  of  the  Mayors’  Society  of  New  Jer¬ 
sey.  For  years  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  project  for  a 
deeper  channel  in  the  Delaware  Fiver  between  Trenton  and  Phil¬ 
adelphia,  for  which  the  National  Government  has  appropriated 
over  one-half  million  dollars  and  for  which  we  are  now  acquiring 
land  for  the  purpose  of  building  municipal  docks  to  meet  this  im¬ 
provement. 

The  Department  of  Public  Affairs,  which  is  supervised  by 
Mayor  Donnelly,  includes  the  following  departmental  heads :  City 
Clerk,  City  Counsel,  City  Attorney,  Overseer  of  Poor,  Steward 
of  Almshouse,  Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures,  Supervisor  of 
Municipal-Tuberculosis  Hospital  and  City  Physicians. 

Commissioner  Edward  W.  Lee  has  been  in  the  public  service 
for  many  years.  He  is  an  accountant  of  recognized  ability  and  at 


19 


the  time  of  his  election  as  City  Commissioner  he  was  City  Comp¬ 
troller.  He  is  an  expert  in  municipal  financing. 

Mr.  Lee,  as  Director  of  Kevenue  and  Finance,  has  in  his  De¬ 
partment  the  City  Treasurer,  City  Comptroller  (in  which  capac¬ 
ity  he  serves,  himself),  Keceiver  of  Taxes,  Secretary  and  clerical 
force  of  Water  Office,  Board  of  Assessors  and  Delinquent  Tax 
Collector. 

Commissioner  George  B.  LaBarre,  because  of  his  long  service 
in  public  life,  is  regarded  as  an  authority  on  municipal  laws  and 
governmental  matters  in  general.  He  was  formerly  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Years  ago  he  was  clerk 
to  the  old  Board  of  Works.  He  has  served  the  city  as  a  member 
of  Common  Council,  as  Police  Commissioner  and  as  City  Assessor, 
filling  the  latter  office  at  the  time  of  his  election  as  Commissioner. 

As  Director  of  Public  Safety,  Mr.  LaBarre  has  control  over  the 
Police  Department,  Fire  Department,  City  Crematory,  Municipal 
Police  Courts,  Building  Inspector,  Health  Department,  Sanitary 
Inspectors,  Meat  Inspector,  Excise  Inspector,  Plumbing  Inspec¬ 
tor,  Dairy  Inspector  and  Milk  Inspector. 

Commissioner  J.  Ridgway  Fell,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  was 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  with  which  he  still  main¬ 
tains  his  connection.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  engineering  de¬ 
partment  of  Rutgers  College,  and  served  as  City  Engineer  under 
the  old  Board  of  Works.  He  has  had  extensive  experience  in  his 
profession. 

The  Department  of  Streets  and  Public  Improvements  of  which 
Mr.  Fell  is  the  administrative  head  is  composed  of  the  following 
branches  of  the  municipal  government.  Superintendent  of  Streets 
Engineer  of  Streets,  Engineer  of  Sewers  and  Water,  Superinten¬ 
dent  of  Sewer  Maintenance,  Superintendent  of  Water  Depart¬ 
ment  and  City  Chemist. 

Cbmmissioner  William  F.  Burk  was  Street  Commissioner  of 
Trenton,  at  the  time  of  his  election  Previous  to  that  time  he  had 
served  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  ISTew  Jersey  and 
was  also  a  member  of  Common  Council. 

As  Director  of  Parks  and  Public  Buildings,  Mr.  Burk  has  sup- 
visory  powers  over  Cadwalader  Park,  Monument  Park,  Tenth 
Ward  Park  and  all  public  recreation  centres  and  playgrounds  in 
the  city.  He  is  also  in  charge  of  the  City  Hall,  Pumping  Station, 
and  other  public  buildings  owned  and  operated  by  the  city. 


20 


Smith  Press 


